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28 April 2006 - Construction is to start on the world's largest solar photovoltaic power plant in May after GE Energy Financial Services announced that it would partner the Portuguese firm Catavento to develop it.
The 11 MW solar power plants will be built at a single site in Serpa, Portugal, one of Europe's sunniest areas. Around 52 000 photovoltaic modules will be used in the project with technology supplied by the US company PowerLight. The company's same PowerTracker technology is installed at what is currently the world's largest solar PV power plant in Bavaria, Germany.
Material deliveries have begun at the 60 hectare site and construction is due to begin next month. The developers aim for the first power from the Serpa project to reach the gird in January 2007.
GE Energy will assume ownership of the facility after agreeing to provide $75m in finance. The renewable company Catavento will develop and manage the project.
President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, Alex Urquhart, said: "This investment is a major step for GE Energy Financial Services not only because this is the world's largest solar photovoltaic plant by also because its our first solar power project in Europe and puts us close to the $1bn mark in our global renewable energy portfolio."
The project will be the world's largest solar PV power plant when it enters operation, but it is not clear for how long it will remain so as details of an 18 MW project were announced late last year. SunEdison will begin constructing the project in Clark County, Nevada, US in July this year. It will feature technology supplied by Powered by Renewables.
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